Novelty lamp construction



March 1.9,.1968 F. A. SCHAFER Y 3,374,345

NOVELTY LAMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l i? .IIW AIII JA 4 ,I um?"l I l IIIIII L IIIIIHIII qllllimmlllllll I I INVENTOR.

UY ATTORNEYS I March 19,1968 |=.A.scHAFER 3,374,345

NOVELTY LAMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ffa" 22e/'125A @5c/2a el@ f .25.5

m I A@ '2 ATTORI-wem Unid states Pat-em one@ 3,374,345 Patented Mar.`19, 1968 3,374,345 NOVELTY LAMP CONSTRUCTION Francis A. Schafer, 2916 Riverside Drive, McHenry, Ill. 60050 Filed sept. 13, 1965, ser. No. 486,713 11 Claims. (C1. 240-10) ABSTRACT oF THE DISCLOSURE A supporting base provides an upwardly opening receptacle within which is electrical equipment upon which is supported a base panel of a fluorescent display which is illuminated by a black light electrical lamp tube carried on the underside of a roof panel on a canopy which has a plurality of spaced posts the lower ends of which are notched to engage separably with upper edges of the receptacle walls, certain of the posts having upwardly opening hools engaged by an elastic strand for hinged rocking to displace the canopy for access to the display land the lamp.

This invention relates to improvements in lamp constructionsand more particularly relates to a novelty lamp which is especially suitable for use as a night light, a TV lamp, or the like. y

A'lamp' of low luminosity is often desirable in a room, bathroom, hallway, and the like, to serve as a night light, directional light, etc, I n a TY viewingarea or room at least va low intensity or luminosity lamp is recommended where the room is otherwise dark except for the TV picture screen.

The present invention is` directed to a lamp construction which is especially suitable for the enumerated purposes and others and at the same time provides for economical yoperation and ornamental appearance.

Another feature and object of the invention resides in the provision ofwa noveltylamp of the character described which is especially constructed and arranged to enable replacement of anornarnetal display which serves `also as part of the illuminating means of the lamp assembly.

A further object of the `invention is to provide a new and improved lamp construction of compact arrangement affording an efficient relative disposition of an electrical light-producingelement and electrical devices necessary for its operation y Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improved meansfor mounting a light tube in a novelty lamp construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novelty lamp simulating a French flower cart.

An additional object ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved novelty lamp utilizing black light.

Otherobjects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill' be readily apparent from thc following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: l

FIGURE 1 is a sideelevational view of a lamp construction embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional elevational view taken in the encircled area II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3. is an end elevational View, partially broken away, of the lamp assembly of FIGURE 1 and showing the canopy hingedly tilted to one side;

.FIGURE4 isa fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line IV'IV of `FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a 4fragmentary sectional detail View taken substantially on line V-V of FIGURE 3; and "FIGURE 6 is aschematic electrical diagram of the lamp circuit.

In practice, an attractive and appealinglamp construction embodying the invention suitable for the several uses enumerated comprises a miniature representation of a French flower cart including an upwardly opening boxlike tray or receptacle 10 which affords a supporting base structure for the lamp. Wheels 11 afford an elevating support for one end portion of the receptacle 10- and a central depending fixed leg 12 provides support for the opposite end of the receptacle. A manipulating handle 13 on the latter end of the receptacle enables ready maneuvering of the lamp on its wheels 11.

Over the receptacle 10 is mounted an ornamental canopy 14 which has generally upright posts or supports 15 at suitable intervals such as at opposite corners of a rectangular canopy shape and which rest at their lower ends on the upper edge defining the receptacle 10'. Conveniently, the supporting posts are engaged with respective front and rear walls 17 and 18 ofV the receptacle 10. For this purpose each of the supporting posts 15 has on its lower end a downwardly opening notch 19 (FIG. 2) in which the upper edge of the respective end wall is received, with a portion 2.0 of the post structure inwardly of the notch fitting inside of the adjacent sidewall of the receptacle. p

Means for retaining the canopy 14 in position against upward displacement desirably comprise hingerstructnre connected with the supporting posts 15 at one side of the receptacle 10. In an efficient and economical form, such retaining and hinge means comprise an elastic strand or cord 211 (FIG. 5) looped over the retaining portion 20 aligned along that side andv conveniently in the form of hook-shaped fingers, At its opposite end portions, the elastic member 21 is secured to the receptacle 10, as for example by extending through respective holes 22 in the bottom of the receptacle and with.knots 23 preventing drawing of the ends out of the holes. Through this arrangement the canopy is held in its assembled relationship with the receptacle and may be conveniently tilted about the hinge provided by the member 21 for access into the receptacle. Assembly of the canopy 14 with the receptacle 10 is easily effected by engaging the lower ends of the supporting posts 15 0n the receptacle edges and then anchorage by means of the elastic retainer-hinge 21 is easily effected by stretching the retainer into engagement with the respective anchoring hooks 20. Removal of the elastic retainer 21 is readily effected by a reverse stretching and disengaging movement and then the canopy can be entirely removed from the receptacle, if desired.

For illumination purposes, -an electrical lamp 24 of preferably elongated tubular form is provided comprising a glass tube having opposite end terminals 25 removably engaged with lamp socket supporting brackets 27 carried by the canopy 14 in overlying spaced relation to the upwardly opening receptacle 10. Each of the lamp socket brackets 27 is mounted on a roof panel plate 28 which is desirably engaged within a re-entrant angle 29 afforded by the marginal frame of the canopy 14. Suitable perforations 30 through the roof plate 28, afford cooling circulation of air upwardly through the roof plate.

Electrical circuitry for the lamp 24, which is preferably of the gas-filled type, comprises an auto-transformer 31 (FIGS.v 3 and 6) and -a starter unit 32, mounted within the receptacle 10 and connected by suitable electrical leads 33 with filaments 34 at opposite ends of the lamp 24. For connecting the lamp circuit into a house current an electrical plug 35 on an electrical cord 37 is provided. On-off control of the lamp circuit is through a switch 38 having an operating knob 39 and mounted at a convenient location, such as readily accessible on the rear wall 18 of the supporting base receptacle.

In a highly desirable arrangement, the lamp 24 is of the black light variety, and means are provided responsive to the black light to present a glowing diffusion of the transmitted light. In the illustrated example, such means comprise a floral arrangement 40 comprising miniature artificial floral items and treated with fluorescent materials so as to glow in various selected colors when bathed with the black light from the lamp 24. Conveniently, the ornamental floral arrangement 40 is carried 'by a base panel 41 of a size to fit within the tray defined by the receptacle and supported adjacent to the top of the receptacle as by resting upon the electrical equipment such as wires, and the transformer 31 and the starter 32 mounted within the receptacle, substantially as shown in FIG. 3. As a result, a highly attractive low luminosity is provided by the black light illuminating the ornamental arrangement 40. Instead of a floral arrangement, any other desirable, seasonal, occasion, religious, and like ornamental arrangement treated with fluorescent material may be mounted on the panel 41 or a similar panel. Thus various arrangements may be interchangeably mounted in the lamp assembly. Such interchangeability is facilitated by the hinged mounting of the canopy 14 as will be apparent on inspection of FIGURE 3.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A novelty lamp comprising:

a supporting base structure,

an ornamental display removably mounted on said base structure,

a canopy over said display having a plurality of spaced supports resting on said base structure and between which the display can be viewed,

illumination means carried by said canopy above said display for illuminating said display,

and means hingedly and separably mounting said supports to said base to enable separation of certain of the supports from the base and rocking of said canopy on others of said supports into a clearance position relative to said display to facilitate assembly and replacement of the display relative to said base structure.

2. A lamp construction of the character described comprising:

an upwardly opening base receptacle,

a supporting structure mounted in overlying relation to said base receptacle,

electrical illumination means carried by said supporting structure,

electrical circuitry means mounted in said receptacle,

and

an ornamental display including a panel displaceably mounted in concealing relation over said electrical circuitry means and receptive of illumination from said illuminating means.

3. A lamp construction as defined in claim 2, in which said base receptacle has an electrical switch accessible for manual operation externally thereon.

4. A lamp construction as defined in claim 2, in which said base receptacle and said supporting structure are of a form simulative of a French flower cart wherein the base receptacle has supporting wheels and a supporting leg and a manipulating handle and the supporting structure comprises a canopy.

5. A novelty lamp construction comprising:

a supporting base structure adapted to support an ornamental display thereon,

a canopy overlying the base structure and having supporting means on said base structure,

a roof panel removably carried Iby said canopy, and illuminating means carried by said roof panel and positioned to illuminate an ornamental display on said base structure, said canopy including a roof frame having a re-entrant angle opening downwardly and inwardly and within which said roof panel is marginally engaged.

6. A novelty lamp construction of the character described including:

a supporting base structure comprising an upwardly opening receptacle defined by an upper edge,

a canopy structure supporting illuminating means and having supporting posts provided with downwardly opening notches at their lower ends within which said upper edge is engaged for supporting the canopy structure on the base structure,

certain of said posts having hook-shaped means on their lower ends,

and elastic means engaging in said hook means for retaining the posts assembled with said edges.

7. A lamp construction as defined in claim 6 in which said elastic means comprises an elastic strand-like member having its oppoiste ends anchored to said base structure.

8. A lamp construction of the character described comprising a supporting base structure having an upwardly projecting portion,

an electrical lamp supporting structure including supporting means engaging said upwardly projecting structure for hinge-like movement to enable lateral displacement of the lamp supporting structure relative to the base structure,

hook-shaped means on said supporting means, and

elastic hold-down and hinge means engaging said hookshaped means and anchored to said base structure.

9. In a combination in a novelty lamp construction of the character described:

.a supporting base structure comprising an upwardly opening substantially rectangular receptacle having front and rear and sidewalls with upper edges,

a lamp-supporting canopy over said receptacle and having four supporting posts comprising two posts on one side and two posts on the opposite side,

the posts on one side having notches in their lower ends engaging the front and rear walls adjacent to one of said sidewalls and the posts on the opposite side having downwardly opening notches engaging said front and rear walls adjacent to the opposite sidewall,

the posts adjacent to one of said sidewalls having on their lower ends upwardly opening hooks normally located inside of said one sidewall, and

an elastic strand anchored at its opposite ends to said base structure and engaged over said hooks for retaining the canopy assembled with the receptacle and also serving as a hinge enabling rocking displacement of the canopy relative to the receptacle.

10. A novelty lamp construction of the character described comprising an upwardly opening receptacle of substantial depth having an upper edge,

a canopy over said receptacle and having supporting posts supported by said edge,

a roof panel on said canopy,

electrical socket means on the underside of said roof panel for supporting a black light electrical lamp tube,

and electrical equipment comprising a transformer and a starter mounted in said receptacle below said edge and electrical wiring connecting them in circuit with said socket means,

an electrical switch moutned on said base structure for controlling said circuit, and

a display arrangement treated to glow under black light and including a base panel supported within said edge removably on and in concealing relation to said equipment.

11. A novelty lamp construction of the character described including:

a supporting base structure comprising an upwardly opening receptacle defined by an upper edge within which a display is accommodated;

and a canopy structure supporting illuminating means and having a plurality 0f supporting posts spaced substantially apart so that the display can be viewed therebetween;

said posts having lower ends with downwardly opening notches therein;

said upper edge being releasably engaged in said notches and the canopy structure being thereby supported by the posts on the base structure;

said edge being separable from the notches and thereby enabling the canopy with the posts to be displaced relative t0 said base structure for free access to the display within said upper edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

